- 1nB2/ˈsemiˌkoʊlən/ · /ˌsemiˈkəʊlən/分號
The mark ; that you use in writing to separate two parts of a sentence that could each be a sentence on their own, or to separate the things in a list when those things already have inside them.
示範例句 · Example
In writing class, Mr. Lin showed us how a semicolon can join two short sentences.
逐字在寫作課上，林老師示範了一個分號如何能連接兩個短句。
semicolon（;）可以想成「比逗號重、比句號輕」的停頓：分號兩邊常常各自都能站成一個完整的句子，但寫的人想讓它們留在同一句裡，因為兩件事的意思是連在一起的。它還有第二個工作——當清單裡的每一項本身已經有逗號，就改用分號當比較大的隔線，讀的人才分得清哪裡是一項的結尾。名字裡的 semi- 有「一半」的意思，就像它長得是「一點加一個逗號」，是個好記的聯想。
常見搭配
use a semicolon
使用分號
to put this mark in your writing
You can use a semicolon here instead of a full stop.
put a semicolon after / between something
在某處放上分號
to place the mark at a certain point in a sentence
Ren put a semicolon between the two halves of his sentence.
separate something with a semicolon
用分號隔開
to keep parts of a list or sentence apart using this mark
Separate the names on your card with a semicolon.
join two sentences with a semicolon
用分號把兩個句子接起來
to keep two complete ideas inside one sentence using this mark
She joined the two sentences with a semicolon so they stayed together.
core核心畫面
One way to picture it: a stop that is heavier than a but lighter than a full stop. Two things could stand apart as separate sentences — the semicolon keeps them in the same breath because they belong together.
From the word’s history
From semi- 'half' + colon, the punctuation mark — literally 'half a colon', naming a stop of middling weight.
字面就是 semi-（一半）＋ colon（冒號那個記號），也就是「半個冒號」。這個組合直接說出它的功能：份量只有一半的停頓。中文譯成「分號」也抓到同一件事——負責把東西「分」開，但分得不徹底。
Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline), s.v. "semicolon"
原始詞典資料1 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
semicolonnoun/ˌsɛmiˈkəʊlən/
- 1
The punctuation mark ;.
- The use of the semicolon has remained contentious and subject to fashion.
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。